Process and apparatus for individual adjustment of the temperature set points of a plurality of VAV devices
First Claim
1. A process for individual adjustment of the temperature set points of a plurality of VAV devices in an HVAC system for a building, comprising the steps of:
- coupling each of a plurality of multipurpose computers located in a plurality of spaces in said building for input of a temperature set point signal to at least one VAV device located for the discharge of air into each of said spaces, each said VAV device being adapted for, and responsive to, receipt of said signal to make a lasting adjustment of a temperature set point for said VAV device;
inputting a selected computer with a temperature set point for adjustment of the temperature set point of a VAV device located in the same space as said selected computer; and
communicating a temperature set point signal from said selected computer to the VAV device located in said same space to effect adjustment of the temperature set point for said VAV device independently of other VAV devices in said HVAC system.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and process for individual adjustment of the temperature set points of a plurality of VAV devices (27, 29) in an HVAC system. The process includes the step of coupling each of a plurality of computers (34) located in a plurality of offices or spaces (22) for input of a temperature set point signal. The computers (34) are coupled to the VAV devices (27, 29) such that a selected computer will input or adjust the temperature set point of only VAV devices (27, 29) located in the same space (22) as the computer (34). Such coupling can be accomplished through direct electrical connections (33), transmitted signals (37, 38), or the use of computer networks (36, 42) which are connected to the VAV devices (27, 29) directly or through the building HVAC control network (32). In the preferred form, the computers (34) are also capable of retrieving the current set point from the VAV device (27, 29), displaying it on the computer display screen and thereafter adjusting the temperature, for example, by using graphical display software.
27 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A process for individual adjustment of the temperature set points of a plurality of VAV devices in an HVAC system for a building, comprising the steps of:
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coupling each of a plurality of multipurpose computers located in a plurality of spaces in said building for input of a temperature set point signal to at least one VAV device located for the discharge of air into each of said spaces, each said VAV device being adapted for, and responsive to, receipt of said signal to make a lasting adjustment of a temperature set point for said VAV device;
inputting a selected computer with a temperature set point for adjustment of the temperature set point of a VAV device located in the same space as said selected computer; and
communicating a temperature set point signal from said selected computer to the VAV device located in said same space to effect adjustment of the temperature set point for said VAV device independently of other VAV devices in said HVAC system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
said coupling step is accomplished by coupling said plurality of computers to VAV diffusers. -
3. The process as defined in claim 1 wherein,
said plurality of coupling step is accomplished by coupling said plurality of computers to VAV boxes. -
4. The process as defined in claim 1 wherein,
said coupling step is accomplished by coupling one of a desktop, a laptop and a hand-held computer to a VAV device. -
5. The process as defined in claim 1 wherein,
said coupling step is accomplished by coupling said computer to said VAV device using a transmitter connected to said computer and a receiver connected to said VAV device.
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6. An HVAC system comprising:
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a plurality of VAV devices each adapted for, and responsive to, receipt of a signal to adjust a temperature set point for operation of said VAV devices, at least one of said VAV devices being located in each of a plurality of spaces in a building; and
a plurality of multipurpose computers each adapted to produce signals suitable for adjusting the temperature set point of a VAV device and being located in at least a plurality of said spaces having a VAV device therein, said plurality of computers each further being coupled and adapted for the transmission of said signal to a VAV device located in the same space as said computer so as to enable adjustment of the temperature set point. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
said VAV devices are provided by at least one of a VAV diffuser and a VAV box. -
8. The HVAC system as defined in claim 7 wherein,
said computers are provided by at least one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer and a hand-held computer. -
9. The HVAC system as defined in claim 6 wherein,
said computers are coupled to said VAV devices by electrical connections. -
10. The HVAC system as defined in claim 6 wherein,
said computers include programs formed to retrieve information from said VAV devices as to the current set point temperature of said VAV devices.
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11. A process for individual adjustment of the temperature set points of a plurality of VAV devices in an HVAC system for a building comprising the steps of:
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coupling each of a plurality of computers located in a plurality of spaces in said building for input of temperature set point signals to a local area network coupled to each of said VAV devices for communication of said temperature set point signals to said VAV devices, each said VAV device being adapted for, and responsive to, receipt of said signal to adjust a temperature set point for said VAV device;
inputting a selected computer with a temperature set point for adjustment of the temperature set point of a VAV device located in the same space as said selected computer; and
communicating a temperature set point signal encoded to effect adjustment of only a VAV device located in the same space as the selected computer from said selected computer through the local area network to the VAV device located in said same space to effect adjustment of the temperature set point for said VAV device independently of other VAV devices in said HVAC system. - View Dependent Claims (12)
said local area network is coupled to said VAV devices through a building HVAC computer network.
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13. A process for individual adjustment of the temperature set points of a plurality of VAV devices in an HVAC system for a building comprising the steps of:
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coupling each of a plurality of computers located in a plurality of spaces in said building for input of a temperature set point signal to at least one VAV device located for the discharge of air into each of said spaces, each said VAV device being adapted for, and responsive to, receipt of said signal to adjust a temperature set point for said VAV device;
retrieving a current temperature set point from said VAV device;
displaying said current temperature set point at a display terminal for said terminal;
inputting a selected computer with a temperature set point for adjustment of the temperature set point of a VAV device located in the same space as said selected computer; and
communicating a temperature set point signal from said selected computer to the VAV device located in said same space to effect adjustment of the temperature set point for said VAV device independently of other VAV devices in said HVAC system. - View Dependent Claims (14)
prior to said inputting step, using a graphical interface to select a new temperature set point input.
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15. An HVAC system comprising:
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a plurality of VAV devices each adapted for, and responsive to, receipt of a signal to adjust a temperature set point for operation of said VAV devices, at least one of said VAV devices being located in each of a plurality of spaces in a building; and
a plurality of computers each adapted to produce signals suitable for adjusting the temperature set point of a VAV device and being located in at least a plurality of said spaces having a VAV device therein, said plurality of computers each further being coupled through one of a local area network and a building HVAC computer network to said VAV devices, and said computers being adapted to generate a control signal capable of changing the temperature set point of a selected VAV device for the transmission of said signal to a VAV device located in the same space as said computer so as to enable independent adjustment of the temperature set point of the selected VAV device. - View Dependent Claims (16)
said computers are coupled to said VAV devices through both a local area network and a building HVAC computer network; - and
said computers are formed to generate a control signal capable of changing the temperature set point only at a VAV device located in the same space.
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17. A process for individual adjustment of the temperature set points of a plurality of VAV devices in an HVAC system for a building having a building HAVAC network connected to each of said plurality VAV devices, comprising the steps of:
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coupling each of a plurality of computers located in a plurality of spaces in said building for input of a temperature set point signal to said building HVAC computer network, each said VAV device being adapted for, and responsive to, receipt of said signal from said building HVAC computer network to adjust a temperature set point for said VAV device;
inputting a selected computer with a temperature set point for adjustment of the temperature set point of a VAV device located in the same space as said selected computer; and
communicating a temperature set point signal encoded to effect adjustment of only a VAV device located in the same space as said selected computer from said selected computer through said building HVAC computer network to the VAV device located in said same space to effect adjustment of the temperature set point for said VAV device independently of other VAV devices in said HVAC system.
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18. A process for individual adjustment of the temperature set points of a plurality of VAV devices in an HVAC system for a building comprising the steps of:
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coupling each of a plurality of computers located in a plurality of spaces in said building for input of a temperature set point signal to at least one VAV device located for the discharge of air into each of said spaces by electrically connecting said computer to a controller controlling operation of an actuator in said VAV device, each said VAV device being adapted for, and responsive to, receipt of said signal to adjust a temperature set point for said VAV device;
inputting a selected computer with a temperature set point for adjustment of the temperature set point of a VAV device located in the same space as said selected computer; and
communicating a temperature set point signal from said selected computer to the VAV device located in said same space to effect adjustment of the temperature set point for said VAV device independently of other VAV devices in said HVAC system.
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Specification